Who Else Wants To Avoid Nuisance Ant Infestations In Chesapeake

Dealing with pests of any kind can cause a lot of frustration and make you feel like your home or business isn’t a clean, safe environment. While dealing with pest infestations is always annoying, some pests are mainly a nuisance, while others pose more of a problem. Some, like certain species of spiders, can pose health risks because of their bites, and some, like mice and termites, can do a great deal of structural damage.

 Carpenter Ants

One common pest that people in the Chesapeake area often deal with is ants. These small bugs can be a big pain because there are usually so many of them, and they often get into food. However, some ants are an even bigger problem. The carpenter ant is considered a damaging ant. These pests damage wood in a way that’s similar to termites. However, while termites eat wood, carpenter ants hollow it out to build nests.

One way to tell if you have nuisance ants or carpenter ants is to know what they look like. Carpenter ants have some unique characteristics that will help you identify them. Here are some things to look for:

• They tend to be slightly bigger than other ant species.
• They come in three different sizes.
• They’re black, brown, or red.
• The “worker” ants have a smooth thorax.
• You can tell them apart from other ants because they have a head shaped like a heart.

Common Nuisance Ants

While carpenter ants are often the most difficult ants because they can cause structural damage to your home and cost you money, other nuisance ants are also a problem. Depending on the species, these ants can come from large colonies and be hard to eradicate. You’ll likely see them swarming areas such as kitchens and bathrooms, and are known to get into food sources and contaminate them. Some of the ant species that are common to the area include:

Odorous House Ants
These are the most common species you’ll find in homes. They emit a disgusting smell when squished, and they tend to contaminate food sources.

Acrobat Ants
These ants will sometimes bite if they feel threatened and occasionally let out foul odors.

Argentine Ants
This species is resilient and can be hard to get rid of because they multiply quickly.

Little Black Ants
This species is common in forested areas, and you can often find them in yards.

Ant Prevention Tips & Tricks

While there is no way to ensure you’ll never deal with an ant infestation, there are some things you can do to lower the chances. These tips will help you prevent ants from getting into your home.

• Caulk all cracks and holes that may enable ants to get inside.
• Clean all entryways into your house with detergent.
• Trims trees and bushes that are touching the sides of your home
• Reduce moisture issues by using dehumidifiers and fixing leaky pipes.
• Try to reduce the amount of soil that reaches your home.

Getting Rid Of Ant Infestations 

While prevention is important, it’s not always effective. Ants are so small that they can easily get inside, and sometimes even with your best efforts, you may end up with an infestation. If this happens, you’ll want to get rid of the problem quickly and might consider using DIY methods. However, there can be many mistakes made using over-the-counter remedies.

Depending on the type of ant, you’ll need to use certain kinds of traps and methods, and you might not be able to identify all the sources of an infestation. Also, it can take months to get rid of certain types of ants.
 
The best way to ensure an ant problem is taken care of correctly is by contacting pest control professionals. At Albemarle Termite & Pest Control, we are proud to provide safe and effective treatments to get rid of the ants in your home. Contact us today!